Browsing Tag:

spring style

  • Everyday Fashion

    Colorful Chaos

    Today I have written 4 separate posts and deleted them all.  Here’s to the fifth one being the keeper!! It is colorful in it’s own right and I think you will see the chaos as you read on.

    A few snipets of the previous 4 attempts:

    1. Two months ago to the day I left London   Closing the kitchen door for the last time- I literally stood in the doorway like I was made of stone unable to will myself to close it and walk away. It meant finality and I wasn’t prepared. I am not prepared. A running flashback of all the memories, of Declan playing in the garden, of Brendan and I eating dinner at the table, of our Thanksgiving, of everything we loved so much about this place. All went running through my mind and I am afraid to close the door and leave for fear it will never be the same. 
    2. . So  much of our future seems to be dictated by our past.  I remember, when I was younger, wanting to live my life in a proactive way and not a reactive way.  Make choices and decisions because that is what I want not because of a past experience or something else tainting it.  For example, red wine gives me a terrible hangover so I drink white instead- but I love red wine.  But is that fair?  I mean sometime we have to make mature adult decisions but sometimes I just want to make decisions without always weighing out every single potential outcome.
    3. Recently I have been doing a lot of thinking as to what I see in regards to how the blog will continue to go.  How do I create a more honest and organic impression on my readers and followers while maintaining my brand?  How do I incorporate the other aspects of my life – my son, my husband, my love for cooking, my new fitness journey, my friends- into a blog that appears to be solely dedicated to fashion??   Any ideas??  No… perfect exactly where I am also!
    4. Alert Alert- a different type of post coming!!  In December Brendan and I traveled to Morocco for a long weekend.  We left Declan in London with my mom (who graciously came out to watch him) and boarded a plane for Africa.  I was so excited and anxious about getting away with Brendan and experiencing a new culture, country, continent.  WOW.  Was I in complete and utter shock upon touch down.  Now, I have traveled a fair amount throughout my life but Marrakesh is like nothing I had ever seen.

    I think this post is now about my inability to commit, focus and follow through with much.  Honestly friends- I am a complete scatter brain. Anything and everything distracts me,  I am constantly changing my mind, my emotions, my clothes, my outlook and my hand lotion.  I am always thinking about something other than what I am doing or supposed to be doing.  Hence the 4 attempts at a blog post.  Now, I do think you see a few of these come to fruition in the next couple months; once I am able to focus and put pen to paper and write- but until then you are left with this mess!!!

    Photos: Jenna Sparks Photography 

    shop the look: denim // top // shoes // necklace <similar> // Clutch //

    This colorful casual comfortable look kind of feeds into my inability to get focused. I have been obsessing over gray tops but am so distracted by all the colorful chaos of springtime colors.  Seriously, loving the bright colorful pops of this outfit but then I am drawn back to the basic neutrals of gray and distressed denim… its like I am chasing squirrels.  ALL OVER THE PLACE.  So, this top is super easy to wear, comes in a ton of colors and is very reasonably priced. Perfect for spring and cool summer nights. These distressed skinnies are a few seasons old but still a favorite pair of mine, so I have linked the closest pair I could find.  I know my days of denim are limited so I am trying to wear as many as I can before the temps are in the 90’s here in Denver and these babies are keepers!!!  These mules are the perfect transitional shoe, I know I talked about that in this post but I can’t stress enough how practical, functional and super cute they are.  LOVE THEM.

    This colorful clutch was a gift from my SIL from her Mexico travels.  It is a handmade limited edition colorful clutch so head over to Erica Maree designs to snag one up!  She has such beautiful, vibrantly colorful stuff you do not want to miss; especially if you are headed to the beach or sunny location! I have linked several others in similar style <here> and <here> but I would encourage you to check out her website! The necklace was a boutique purchase and I was immediately drawn to the colorful multi-strands… but don’t worry I was quickly running all over the store buying up everything I could find because I could not focus on any one thing.  I have linked a few similar colorful necklaces <here> and <here>.  I loved how this bag and this necklace were the perfect colorful accessories to jazz up my gray obsession.
    *** I have been really loving smaller boutiques and pop-up shops so not everything I wear is linkable. I try my best to find similar items but I also need to stay true to me and wear what I love!!!***

    colorful chaos

    That is my life in a nutshell, friends.  I start a task, find something new to do half way through, sit down to drink some coffee, run off to play with Declan, end up talking the dog for a walk and yet… still nothing is getting accomplished over here in my world. Kid you not, this post was started and deleted at least four times and this fifth one was a struggle.  I try making to do lists but can never seem to finish them, I try setting reminders in my phone but then silence them…. I write and leave sticky notes around the house and Declan steals them… no hope people!!!  Let me clarify and say I know the reality is that I have too much on my mind, too many moving parts and too few “life tools” to deal with it all. This is a self made problem and therefore only myself can come out of it.  In all honesty, it isn’t all bad- I feel like each day I am learning something new about my life, or how to parent Declan, or which cosmetics I like, or which Sauviognon Blanc goes best with toddler food, how many times my coffee can be re-heated in the morning.  You know LIFE.  So, if you need me I’ll be over in my corner of the world indulging in my colorful chaos… come on over and stay a while.

    With Love,

     

  • Everyday Fashion

    Choice: In Flowy Tops

    Choices and Instincts… who decides???

    Recently I have been having an ongoing conversation about the freedom of choice and the idea of who determines our path in life. There are so many beliefs carried by many different people that is there really one right answer??

    The conversation stems from a situation where a dear and cherished friend of mine has been faced with some very challenging life choices. As someone who grew up in a very strict faith and in adulthood committed and chose her faith over anything – she is now bound by the values and morals of her guiding religion. Only now what? And what about people who have been raised with freedom of faith? What binds us and drives us? As I have friends on both sides I am lucky enough to get to engage in close and honest conversations on both sides. How is our life determined? At what point, does love or life take precedent over prescribed beliefs and values? Is there a healthy mix of both?? 

    The reality is there is no roadmap for life- at least not one that I have seen. I believe in the power of choice and I understand that is not the same for everyone. I believe my destiny is not determined but rather I can choose, alter, guide and steer my life towards a destiny. The twists and turns at each corner remind me that I have the freedom to choose and for that I am grateful. Human instinct is such an incredibly strong force and I have learned that when I trust my instinct I come out on the other side happy. Trust me, I do not have it all figure out- in fact I have very little figured out but I am learning to trust my instinct more. I am learning to remember that life is not planned and that sometimes detouring off course can have amazing outcomes. Thinking about my friend who followed her heart – her instinct- I am hopeful that after the hurt and pain is gone she will embrace her choice to follow her instinct.

    Photos: Jenna Sparks

    shop the look:  denim // top // booties // earrings // tote // brALETTE

    Choosing my outfit is like choosing my destiny- I get to decide and I get to mix and match. Enter this open back flowy top which is a little bit off the path for me. Oh, and I choose to wear white denim year-round: talk about veering off course! Ha. I have had my eye on this top for a while but always felt it was a little out of character for me but I decided to just go for it and I am so glad I did!! I L O V E it. I wore it here with a lace bralette and love the free-flowing nature and the openness of the back. It is perfect for spring days as it is still long sleeve to add some warmth but the open back makes it perfect for those warm spring days.

    White denim. Let’s not be scared to wear it all year round. Embrace it, wear it, love it. These new skinnies were a part of the “Operation Update my Denim” that you may have read about in this post. I was so excited to get back to the US and start buying up some essential staples and these were first, maybe second, on the list. I will wear them all season- all year!!! I may add a pair of distressed like <these> or <these> to the line-up shorty but for now I am loving these babies.

    New location = new booties. Again, really capitalizing on the weather and indulging in all the perforated styles. These were a great purchase and will carry me right on through to flip-flop and sandal weather.

    TWO DIFFERENT PATHS.

    I consider myself to be an open and transparent person and therefore I am willing to write and share my wonderings, to share my values and beliefs.  The fact that my heart and instinct would lead me down one path and there are people, whom I consider very dear friends, have been lead down a different path is encouraging as it reminds me about the power of choice. It keeps me on my toes and allows me the opportunity to both expand my knowledge and open my perspective to something different. Furthermore, the fact that conversations don’t turn into judgement is a reminder of the power of humanity and positive intent. Connecting with others and engaging in discussions about real things- including religion and choice- is what I live for. I am not a superficial person. I want to talk about deep things- I want to talk about life. Thanks for allowing me the freedom and space to do so here. Thank you for supporting and being open minded to differences in opinions.

    With Love,

    Shop all the items here with one click- I try to ensure everything is in stock and update if needed!